Dr. Alexander Farivar is the surgical director of pleural diseases at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, where he specializes in surgery of the lungs and esophagus. An expert in the treatment of mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the chest), Dr. Farivar’s philosophy of care is “to offer compassionate and individualized care for every patient.” In 2011, he was named a “top doctor” by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, an honor bestowed on doctors by their peers.

Educational Background

Dr. Farivar attended medical school at Boston University, a leading private research institution in the state of Massachusetts. He went on to complete a residency in general surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, as well as a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston. This fellowship made a profound impact on Dr. Farivar’s passion for treating patients with mesothelioma.

“My experience in training in mesothelioma surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, arguably the biggest international center treating mesothelioma, has shown me that people can survive for years after aggressive treatment including surgery,” Dr. Farivar writes. “I know we can help patients with mesothelioma feel and breathe better, and enjoy their remaining years.”

Dr. Farivar is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. In addition to serving as director of the Swedish Cancer Institute’s pleural diseases division, Dr. Farivar also teaches in the medical center’s General Surgery Residency Program.

Clinical and Laboratory Research

With just 3,000 new cases diagnosed each year, mesothelioma remains a relatively rare type of cancer; in order to receive the best treatment, it is important to choose a doctor who is well versed with the intricacies of the disease. Dr. Farivar specializes in pleural mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer that strikes the pleura, or the lining of the chest wall. He performs surgeries on the lungs, chest wall and esophagus, and often utilizes several cutting-edge surgery techniques. These include “robot assisted surgery,” surgery that pairs a surgeon with robotic technology, usually for early-stage cancer surgeries, and “video assisted thoracic surgery,” a technique that accesses the lung through small incisions with the aid of a tiny video camera.

Informational Video

In this educational video, Dr. Alexander Farivar, surgical director of pleural diseases at the Swedish Cancer Institute, discusses the issues and common symptoms associated with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Possible treatment options for pleural diseases are also presented.

Additional Work

In addition to his work with mesothelioma, Dr. Farivar also treats chest wall tumors, esophageal cancer, achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and other disorders affecting the chest and esophagus.

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